Rochdalian’s victory run ended by Range
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND-UP
IT was back to league action in all divisions with the only cup tie coming in the Cheshire Amateur Cup with High Lane losing out in a close encounter with Govan Athletic by the odd goal in five.
The Premier division title race was opened up as Whalley Range upset the odds by ending Rochdalians’ 100 per cent record in a thriller at Springfield Park.
Range came out with all guns blazing as they raced into a 4-0 lead with doubles from Tim Kinsella and Tom Rowdon.
Rochdalians came back strongly but Range held on for a breathless 4-3 win.
Second-placed Milton were without a game but Waterloo showed their intent to chase down the top two with a clinical 7-0 win at Old Stretfordians.
Mellor provided another shock as they ended their slow start to the season with a 5-3 win over South Manchester who dropped down to fourth place on goal difference with their consolation strikes coming from Cassius Murray (two) and Jaye Rushton.
Trafford United kept up their good run of form with a 6-0 win over Old Ashtonians.
The top game in division one saw the top two in opposition and it ended with honours even as Dom Doyle shared six goals with Hooley Bridge Celtic.
Parrs Wood Celtic moved to within a point of the top two as they kept up their hot streak with a 4-1 win at Irlam Tigers and Chorltonians are also in the mix with a 4-3 derby win over Didsbury.
Another local derby saw AFC Oldham ease to a 5-2 win over Oldham Vics.
Stoconians were locked at 2-2 with Bury Ams and Moston Brook won 2-1 at Swinton to end the home team’s unbeaten record.
Newton continue to dominate division two with a 5-1 win over Rochdalians seconds preserving their 100 per cent record and stay two points clear of Manchester Polonia with a game in hand as Polonia went down 7-3 at Hollingworth in their first defeat of the season.
Whalley Range seconds looked to be cruising to their third win of the season over Spurley Hey as they raced into a 4-1 lead but Hey staged a remarkable comeback to level at 5-5 with Joey Shingler and Paris Bostock both bagging braces for Range and Ishmail Barker completing their nap hand.
Bedians enjoyed their second win of the season by 3-1, hosting Mellor seconds in the other game in the division.
Division three leaders Signol Athletic suffered their first defeat of the season going down 2-1 in a local derby with Stoconians to see the two teams below them close the gap to two points.
Chadderton Park won 5-2 in their local derby with Radclyffe and Aldermere won an amazing game at Milton seconds by 9-6.
The other two games saw wins for Dukinfield Athletic by 5-1 at Abacus Media seconds and Mellor thirds won a close game by the odd goal in five at Heaton Mersey.
Elton Lib Hargreaves stay four points clear at the top of division A with a 3-1 win over Signol Athletic seconds and Chadderton Cott stay in second place with a 4-2 win at Spurley Hey second.
Unicorn Athletic enjoyed their first league win of the season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Trafford United seconds.
Unicorn were indebted to their MoM keeper Danny Woods with some stunning saves keeping an immaculate clean sheet and at the other end there were three excellent team goals.
Ben Mckie hit two and Johnny Redgrave provided a slide-rule finish for the third.
Dukinfield Athletic seconds moved into the top four with a 3-2 victory over AFC Oldham seconds and Rochdale Galaxy also won a tight contest by 2-1 over Chorltonians Villa.
Division B leaders Old Strets seconds lost the division’s game of the day and their unbeaten record going down 5-1 to an impressive Parrs Wood Celtic seconds who closed the gap to a point and they stay level with AFC Stockport who won 5-2 at Stoconians thirds.
A well contested game at Hillgate had the visitors Hooley Bridge Celtic emerging with a 4-3 win and Chorltonians Athletic edged a 3-2 win over Staly Lions.
Moston Brook thirds had few problems in overcoming Bury Ams seconds by 4-1.
Deans FC took over at the top of division C as they crushed Chorltonians Albion 9-0 as previous leaders Govan Athletic A were held 2-2 by Whalley Range A who had Bradley McDonagh and Kieran Cheetham netting.
Hollingworth seconds also dropped off the top going down 4-3 at Bury Ams thirds and Old Strest thirds stay in the mix with a comfortable 6-2 win over Stoconians fourths.
It was honours even in the other game as Moston Brook fourths drew 1-1 with Irlam Tigers seconds.